Third 'Hobbit' Gets July 2014 Release; Part 2 Gets New Name

By: Steven Chaitman | Aug 31, 2012 Last month, Peter Jackson announced that two would become three where The Hobbit films were concerned. Today, Warner Bros. has announced an official release date of July 18, 2014 for the conclusion to this newly formed trilogy.

As for the title, the film will be called The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Confused? Wasn't that the title of Part 2? Well, since the bulk of the new material Jackson wanted to add takes place prior to the conclusion as opposed to after it, it makes sense that final film have the same title. Instead, the second film — out on December 13, 2013 — will be retitled The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Smaug, of course, refers to the dragon (voiced by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch) who sets the whole story in motion.


The decision to conclude the trilogy in the summer gives fans a much shorter wait (seven months) between the second film and the finale. The move paid off quite well for Warner Bros. with the last two Harry Potter films, so it makes sense on all fronts.

In the statement, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution, Dan Fellman, discussed the reason for the summer date.

"We wanted to have a shorter gap between the second and third films. Opening in July affords us not only the perfect summer tentpole, but fans will have less time wait for the finale of this epic adventure."

Given that the end of The Hobbit is the most action-packed, it will be a welcome addition to the summer slate.